spruce Hear it!

spruce1 definition

spruce (spro̵̅o̅s)

noun

  1. any of a genus (Picea) of evergreen trees of the pine family, having slender needles that are rhombic in cross section
  2. the soft, light wood of any of these trees
  3. any of several evergreen trees, as the Douglas fir, resembling the spruces

Etymology: ME Spruce, for Pruce, Prussia < OFr < ML Prussia: prob. because the tree was first known as a native of Prussia

spruce2 definition

spruce (spro̵̅o̅s)

adjective sprucer spruc′er, sprucest spruc′·est

neat and trim in a smart, dapper way

Etymology: < ME Spruce (see spruce), esp. in the phr. Spruce leather, fine leather imported from Prussia

transitive verb spruced, sprucing spruc′·ing

to make spruce: usually with up

intransitive verb

to make oneself spruce: usually with up

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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